Cancer targeted with reusable ‘stinging nettle’ treatment

Nature Chemistry has recently published research, led by Professor Peter Sadler, that has developed a new line of attack against cancer: an organic-osmium compound, which is triggered using a non-toxic dose of sodium formate, a natural product found in many organisms, including nettles and ants.

Named JPC11, it targets a metabolic process which cancer cells rely on to survive and multiply. It does this by converting a key substance used by cancer cells to provide the energy they need for rapid division (pyruvate) into an unnatural lactate - leading to the cells’ destruction.

More electronic materials opened up with new metal-organic framework

Research published today in Nature Communications shows how high photoconductivity and semiconductor behaviour can be added to MOFs - which already have a huge international focus for their applications in gas storage, sensing and catalysis.

The new work, conducted by Universities in Brazil, the United Kingdom and France – including researchers at Warwick’s Department of Chemistry - found that the new MOF has a photoresponsivity of 2.5 × 105 A.W-1

Retarding oxidation of copper nanoparticles without electrical isolation, and the size dependence of work function

Research led by the Hatton group in collaboration with researchers from Warwick Physics, published in Nature Communications, advances the possibility of using copper nanoparticles for emerging electronic devices in place of more costly silver and gold nanoparticles.